Firmiana colorata, Sterculia colorata

The spectacular Bonfire tree produces flowers in short dense panicles which occur at the ends of the branches. The flowers are orange-red in color and hang downwards. The flowering stalks together with flowers are covered with fine downy hairs giving the whole inflorescence a soft, velvety look. During flowering phase, this Scarlet Sterculia is quite prominent and presents a brilliant sight because of its orange-red flowers against a leafless state. The plant goes dormant during winter and loses leaves. Young trees grown from a bulb/caudex and can be grown as a bonsai plant. When planted in the ground, it grows into a large tree.

Similar plants:

• Firmiana simplex, Sterculia platanifolia (Chinese Parasol Tree)
• Firmiana malayana (Bullock's Eye, Mata Lembu)
• Brachychiton australis, Sterculia trichosiphon (Broad Leaved Bottletree)
• Pterygota alata, Sterculia alata (Buddha Coconut )
• Sterculia apetala, Helicteres apetala, Sterculia carthaginensis, Sterculia chicha (Bellota, Panama Tree)
• Sterculia appendiculata (Mgude, Yellow barked Sterculia)
• Sterculia ceramica (Lanyu Sterculia)
• Sterculia coccinea, Sterculia lanceolata var. coccinea, Sterculia hamiltonii (Shrub Sterculia, Kelumpang)
• Sterculia foetida (Peon, Indian Almond, Hazel Sterculia, Java Olive, Skunk Tree)
• Sterculia lanceifolia, Sterculia roxburghii (Lanceleaf Sterculia)